The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Christian Formation and Discipleship presented its Report #19 on Resolution D023 (Amend Canons III.6.5(g)(4), III.8.5(h)(4), and III.10.1.(c)(4) and Establish Task Force) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(D023)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 79th General Convention establish an Anti-Sexism Task Force to research and develop a training program for the purpose of addressing the systemic sexism within the church and the larger society with the goals of raising awareness of bias, eliminating sexist hiring practices within the church, and identifying intersectionalities of discrimination across multiple cultural identities; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force be appointed consisting of 3 bishops, 3 priests, 2 deacons, and 5 lay persons, with the Presiding Bishop appointing the bishop members, and the President of the House of Deputies appointing the priests, deacons, and lay members. At least one half will be women with at least one woman appointed for each of the orders; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force complete development of the training program by December 31, 2019; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force shall submit the training program to Executive Council for its approval by December 31, 2019; and be it further

Resolved, That the training, once developed and approved for use, be required for all bishops, priests and deacons, and all lay persons elected to leadership in The Episcopal Church including, but not limited to, Executive Council, diocesan Standing Committees, diocesan Councils, diocesan Boards of Trustee, and similar bodies by whatever name, diocesan search committees for the election of bishops and be encouraged for use by all congregational search committees; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request that the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance consider a budget allocation of $60,000 for the implementation of this resolution; and be it further

Resolved, That Canon III.6.5(g) be amended to read as follows:

(g) Preparation for ordination shall include training regarding

(1) prevention of sexual misconduct.

(2) civil requirements for reporting and pastoral opportunities for responding to evidence of abuse.

(3) the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, particularly Title IV thereof.

(4) the Church’s teaching on racism and sexism.

And be it further

Resolved, That Canon III.8.5(h), be amended to read as follows:

(h) Preparation for ordination shall include training regarding

(1) prevention of sexual misconduct.

(2) civil requirements for reporting and pastoral opportunities for responding to evidence of abuse.

(3) the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, particularly Title IV thereof.

(4) the Church’s teaching on racism and sexism.

And be it further

Resolved, That Canon III.10.1.(c) be amended to read as follows:

(c) evidence of training regarding

(1) prevention of sexual misconduct.

(2) civil requirements for reporting and pastoral opportunities for responding to evidence of abuse.

(3) the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, particularly Title IV thereof.

(4) the Church’s teaching on racism and sexism.

And be it further

Resolved, That Canon III.12.1 be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 1. Formation

Following election and continuing for three years following ordination, new Bishops shall pursue the process of formation authorized by the House of Bishops. This process of formation shall provide a mentor for each newly ordained Bishop. The process of formation shall include training regarding

(1) prevention of sexual misconduct.

(2) civil requirements for reporting and pastoral opportunities for responding to evidence of abuse.

(3) the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, particularly Title IV thereof.

(4) the Church’s teaching on racism and sexism.

And be it further

Resolved, That this Task Force shall report to Executive Council yearly, and to the 80th General Convention on the status of the training implementation with recommendations for continued development and improvement.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 79th General Convention establish an Anti-Sexism Task Force to research and develop a training program for the purpose of addressing the systemic sexism within the church and the larger society with the goals of raising awareness of bias, eliminating sexist hiring practices within the church, and identifying intersectionalities of discrimination across multiple cultural identities; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force be appointed consisting of 3 2 bishops, 3 2 priests, 2 deacons, and 5 6 lay persons, with the Presiding Bishop appointing the bishop members, and the President of the House of Deputies appointing the priests, deacons, and lay members. At least one half will be women with at least one woman appointed for each of the orders; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force complete development of the training program by December 31, 2019; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force shall submit the training program to Executive Council for its approval by December 31, 2019; and be it further

Resolved, That the training, once developed and approved for use, be required for all bishops, priests and deacons, and all lay persons elected or appointed to leadership in The Episcopal Church including, but not limited to, Executive Council, diocesan Standing Committees, diocesan Councils, diocesan Boards of Trustee, and similar bodies by whatever name, diocesan search committees for the election of bishops and be encouraged for use by all congregational search committees; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request that the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance consider a budget allocation of $60,000 for the implementation of this resolution; and be it further

Resolved, That Canon III.6.5(g) be amended to read as follows:

(g) Preparation for ordination shall include training regarding

(1) prevention of sexual misconduct.

(2) civil requirements for reporting and pastoral opportunities for responding to evidence of abuse.

(3) the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, particularly Title IV thereof.

(4) the Church’s teaching on racism and sexism.

And be it further

Resolved, That Canon III.8.5(h), be amended to read as follows:

(h) Preparation for ordination shall include training regarding

(1) prevention of sexual misconduct.

(2) civil requirements for reporting and pastoral opportunities for responding to evidence of abuse.

(3) the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, particularly Title IV thereof.

(4) the Church’s teaching on racism and sexism.

And be it further

Resolved, That Canon III.10.1.(c) be amended to read as follows:

(c) evidence of training regarding

(1) prevention of sexual misconduct.

(2) civil requirements for reporting and pastoral opportunities for responding to evidence of abuse.

(3) the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, particularly Title IV thereof.

(4) the Church’s teaching on racism and sexism.

And be it further

Resolved, That Canon III.12.1 be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 1. Formation

Following election and continuing for three years following ordination, new Bishops shall pursue the process of formation authorized by the House of Bishops. This process of formation shall provide a mentor for each newly ordained Bishop. The process of formation shall include training regarding

(1) prevention of sexual misconduct.

(2) civil requirements for reporting and pastoral opportunities for responding to evidence of abuse.

(3) the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, particularly Title IV thereof.

(4) the Church’s teaching on racism and sexism.

And be it further

Resolved, That this Task Force shall report to Executive Council yearly, and to the 80th General Convention on the status of the training implementation with recommendations for continued development and improvement.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #251)